CBD as Preventative Medicine

Doctors say all the time that simply eating right and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the best medicine of all if we want to maintain long-term health. Of course, this is because of the simple fact that healthy foods like vegetables, fruits, and leafy greens are low in disease-causing ingredients (like cholesterol), and high in essential vitamins and antioxidants that work to keep our bodies functioning right.

But did you know that CBD oil has many similarly functioning antioxidants as the ones that are found in the dietary supplements we take and the fruits and vegetables we eat?

In fact, research has shown that the specific antioxidants found in cannabidiol (CBD) are more powerful than vitamins E and C in terms of physiological function. When used in serums and oil tinctures, this translates to a wealth of disease-preventing characteristics.

REDUCED RISK OF DIABETES & OBESITY

Several studies have shown that regular cannabis users have a lower body mass index, smaller waist circumferences, and reduced risk of diabetes and obesity. One 2011 report published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, based on a survey of more than fifty-two thousand participants, concluded that rates of obesity are about one-third lower among cannabis users. This is despite the findings that participants tend to consume more calories per day, an activity that is potentially related to THC’s stimulation of ghrelin, a hormone that increases appetite but also increases the metabolism of carbohydrates. CBD on its own was shown in 2006 to lower the incidence of diabetes in lab rats, and in 2015 an Israeli-American biopharmaceutical collective began stage 2 trials related to using CBD to treat diabetes. Research has demonstrated that CBD helps the body convert white fat into weight-reducing brown fat, promoting normal insulin production and sugar metabolism.

NEURODEGENERATION (BRAIN DISORDERS SUCH AS NEUROPATHY AND ALZHEIMER’S)

Neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis) are diseases that involve the breakdown of neurons in the brain. This is another type of disorder that increases in prevalence with age, and it results in the inability for the brain to properly communicate with the body. This results in such symptoms as memory loss, incontinence (loss of bladder control), and dementia, among others. CBD is a known neuroprotectant, which means that it reinforces the protective tissues which block neurons from degenerative attacks. Also, it is well known that the U.S. government owns a patent (US patent no.6630507) to cannabidiol as a neuroprotective therapy – long-term use of CBD oil will likely lead to increased neuron health and reduced likelihood of degenerative breakdown.

CANNABINOIDS HELP MAINTAIN BRAIN HEALTH & CREATE RESILIENCE TO TRAUMA & DEGENERATION

Cannabinoids are neuroprotective, meaning that they help maintain and regulate brain health. The effects appear to be related to several actions they have on the brain, including the removal of damaged cells and the improved efficiency of mitochondria. CBD and other antioxidant compounds in cannabis also work to reduce glutamate toxicity. Extra glutamate, which stimulates nerve cells in the brain to fire, causes cells to become over-stimulated, ultimately leading to cell damage or death. Thus, cannabinoids help protect brain cells from damage, keeping the organ healthy and functioning properly. CBD has also been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect on the brain.

As the brain ages, the creation of new neurons slows down significantly. In order to maintain brain health and prevent degenerative diseases, new cells need to be continuously created. A 2008 study showed that low doses of CBD- and THC-like cannabinoids encouraged the creation of new nerve cells in animal models, even in aging brains. CBD also helps prevent other nerve-related diseases like neuropathy and Alzheimer’s disease

SKIN DISEASE/DETERIORATION

CBD’s known effects as an antioxidant have made it a highly recommended treatment for long-term skin health, especially if administered as a topical serum, oil, cream, lotion, or salve. The epidermal layer is a hotbed for free-radical accumulation, and powerful antioxidants are needed in order to “flush out” the free radicals and keep skin cells functioning efficiently and healthily. Healthy skin leads to a long-term decrease in the likelihood of developing conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis, and studies have shown that the antioxidants in CBD are more powerful than those found in vitamins C and E.

GENERAL INFLAMMATION

Lastly, it has long been known that CBD acts as a functional anti-inflammatory therapy. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) engages on a molecular level with nearly every cell, organ, and tissue type in the body to reduce on-site inflammation, and the administration of CBD oil is recognized to stimulate the ECS, thereby reducing the risk of inflammation-induced diseases and disorders, which are highly prevalent and common, especially with age.